The Angel

Mark 6:52

My tire glazed an ice patch,

spun across the turnpike

and plunged into a gulch of snow

in the lonely hours of the night—

until a lemon plastic jumpsuit waved

in my window— a bald man

wearing citrus, holding chains.

Later, he was an angel—

but then I only believed in

the yellow suit,

in cold coincidence,

in kneeling on Sunday,

and recited prayer—

so I laughed.

Days passed and my young,

spit-filled eyes glimpsed

trees walking,

vats of wine water,

a stray whale,

a wet fleece—

such sundry specters.

Then after years of beholding

the sky-loosed bread,

fat fish-full nets,

water-clogged rocks,

divine winds—

the clouds uncovered

that evening’s apparitions,

the moonlit head,

silvery links,

the golden suit

So that sacred storms

unchained my eyes

to feast on manna

and memory

and marvel—

and I could see

and know

what He meant

by the loaves.